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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Cholera, Anyone?

Although we all dream of a lovely cabin in the remote Northern woods, tucked in beside a bubbling stream and surrounded by trees as far as the eye can see, this isn't realistic for most of us. One of my pet prepping topics is "bugging in." For those of us without the resources to pick up and move full time to our retreat, that can be the best option in many scenarios.

As a single mama with two lovely teenage daughters, the last thing in the world I plan to do is take off on foot to destinations unknown with the rest of the golden horde. We plan to hunker down and hide out in plain sight.

We live in a city of around 100,000 people in Southern Ontario. While that is not ideal in terms of population, it's what we have to work with. So the question is, with weapons strictly monitored in Canada, how do you make your house the least inviting one on the block?

Take a moment to consider the humble "Quarantine" sign. How can a simple typed piece of paper strike fear into the heart of the most hardened and well-armed criminal? Just invoke the power of a deadly virus. Very few people could want what the house contains enough to enter a place that is restricted due to quarantine.

For all intents and purposes, my home could be host to H1N1, cholera, dysentery, measles, smallpox or even a biological contagion like Anthrax. I've included some photos that I found on the internet but feel free to do your own Google search.

I've printed off a number of different signs and have them filed neatly away in my office. It's important to use something that is realistic to the crisis at hand. If sanitation or flooding is an issue, water-borne illnesses like Cholera are realistic. During a pandemic, go with the disease at hand. During times of civil unrest a biological contaminant is far more likely, including radiation, small pox or anthrax.

I have signs related to specific issues and simple generic"Contagious Disease Present" signs. I have signs with the Ministry of Health insignia, the CDC logo and the FEMA seal, ready to be affixed to all of the entrances to the house. Keep your curtains drawn and black out your windows with heavy plastic to keep curious eyes from looking in and seeing you and your family looking perfectly healthy. FEMA condemnation signs are usually printed on red paper. Police tape (easily acquired at Halloween) is a nice touch. FEMA also spray paints symbols on houses during searches to warn people to stay away. Keep your family members indoors and lay low until the situation improves.

What horrible diseases sound realistic to you? Do you have other strategies for making your home undesirable to criminals if the SHTF? Are there some diseases that you feel people would risk to access your home and possibly find provisions?